Switch



Feb. 23, 1954 R. B. WHITE, JR

SWITCH I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 24, 1946 INVENTOR. koex B. WH/TE JR. BY 6W 5, Juan HTTORNE Y5 Feb. 23, 1954 8. WHITE, JR

SWITCH -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 24, 1946 h .uQ k NEE Q25 Feb. 23, 1954 Original Filed June 24, 1946 R. B. WHITE, JR

SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I W i x I49 17/ I73 I I I 27 m m F E .3 INVENTOR. 1" R05) 5. WHITE JR.

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Patented Feb. 23, 1954 Originalapplication. June 28, 1946, Serial No. 678,755. Divided and this application May 13, 1952, Serial No. 287,577

(Cl. ZOO-52) (Granted under Title 35,U. S. Code (1952),

see. 266) 2 Claims.

The invention described herein. may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates in general to electrical switches, and is disclosed as applied in a device for continuously and automatically indicating the position of a movable body with relation to known fixed objects. This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 678,755 filed June 24, 1946.

As used herein, the term synchro means a self-synchronous motor, generator, or system, also commonly known under other names such as selsyn, autosyn, and "synchrotie, and the term synchro will be used in the specification and claims to denote apparatus as thus defined.

An object of this invention is to provide an electrical switch adapted for use in a device for continuously and automatically indicating the position of a movable body with respect to fixed objects of known position.

Another object. is to provide an electrical switchfor use with acrait-position repeater, said switch including a. contact member adjustable rotatably in accordancewith changes in craft orientation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its arrangement, construction mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, showing apreferred embodiment of the invention.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1 there is shown apparatus for continuously and automaticallyindicating. the position of a ship,-the apparatuscomprising a rectangular box I adapted to bemounted on. theship, and having a bottom wall serving as a table I l or the like. A plurality of bearing repeaters l2 are disposed on the table H to represent, by their positiomthe location-0t nxedobjects or land marks outside the ship, said repeaters l2 being movably positioned on table I I. A ships position indicator [3 is mounted for movement over table II. The position of indicator [3 on the table I! is controlled by an east-west positioning screw 14 and a north-south positioning screw l5, which screws [4 and 15 are operated by motors l6 and H respectively. Electrical contacts I9 on the bearing repeaters l2 operate to control motors l6 and H, as will be hereinafter described, whereby the position of position indicator I3 is controlled across the entire area of table H.

Operably connected to position indicator I3 is a synchro motor l8 which is operated by means of a gyro compass I23 (Fig. 1a) or the like, to maintain the position indicator pointing to the true heading of the ship.

The position indicator I3 comprises a pair of relatively rotatable circular scales 13a and Hit, the scale 13a being of annular shape, and scale |3b being a disc concentrically mounted within the annulus of scale 13a. Each of the scales I30: and I3b are preferably of Lucite or other transparent material on which 0 to 360-degree gradu ations can conveniently be engraved and filled with opaque ink or the like. As shown, the degree markings on each scale 13a and I312 advance in clockwise direction about the center of the indicator [3. Reading of scale 13a as by means of a reference arrow 30 formed at the 000 mark on scale [3b indicates the instant true ships heading as controlled by the gyroscope of the ship (not shown), while reading of scale l3b according to the position of the 360 mark on scale [30: indicates the relative hearing from the ships heading.

Scale [3b is graduated further in a series of concentric arcs of circles 32 having progressively increasing radii of curvature. Circles 32 can be calibrated to indicate range of an object from the ship on which the indicator is mounted.

The indicator I3 is preferably housed in a case (not shown) with the annular scale [3a secured to the case and the disc scale l3b mounted for rotation within the case about the longitudinal axis thereof. A light 34 placed beneath ring 13a and card [32) projects their calibrations and the ships position and heading onto a chart or map 40 placed on a transparent top 42 of box In above table II.

In operating the indicator [3, the scale |3a is adjusted preliminarily so that the 360 line thereof is aligned with an arbitrary North or fiduoia1 mark 36 that is formed on the table Scale [312 is then rotated independently of synchro 18 until the arrow 30 is directed toward the scale [to indication that represents the true instant headin of the ship. This independent rotation of scale it?) is accomplished by loosening an adjustment screw (not shown) by means of which the scale is secured normally to the shaft of the synchro [8. After the independent rotation of scale i322, the adjustment screw is tightened so that the scale i3?) is rotated by the synchro. Synchro :3 is connected electrically to a transmitting synchro, as will appear hereinbelow, which, in turn, is geared to the gyro of the ship. The same gear ratio exists between synchro l3 and scale I317. Hence, the arrow 3%] always indicates on scale 53a the true instant heading of the ship, as controlled by the gyroscope of the ship. p

Having thus described the'components of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, attention is now directed to Fig. la for a detailed description of the complete system.

Fig. la discloses, in block diagrammatic form, the position indicating apparatus constructed according to the present invention. To provide navigational fixes of a craft bearing the apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, true reverse bearings of at least two landmarks are projected upon a chart upon which the spatial interrelationship of the landmarks is known. Actual pelorus bearings of the craft are obtained by simultaneously sighting on three preselected 1an-dmarks (not shown) by means of conventional peloruses iiil, I03 and 505. While three peloruses are herein disclosed and described, it will be understood that this particular number is not essential. Any number of peloruses more than one may be used, the set of three here shown being exemplary only.

The operation of lining up the pelorus sights on the associated landmarks drives respective synchro generators I81, I09, ii! that are mounted fixedly on the craft. The rotors of the generators are connected to the respective pelorus sighting element through suitable high-ratio gear trains i l3, i 15, I ll, respectively, so that the angular displacement of the synchro rotor is proportional to the relative bearing of the landmark and the craft. 7

As is well known in the art of navigation, re-

verse true bearings are obtainable from relative bearings by adding thereto the gyro heading of the craft (corrected for gyro error) and 180. In the apparatus of the invention, the operation of converting relative bearing to reverse true bearing is accomplished by means of an assemblage of difierential synchros and mechanical differentials.

Thus, as shown, a mechanical pick-up H9, having the same mechanical ratio to a synchro generator IZI as the peloruses lill, H23, 105 have to the respective synchro generators W7, W9, III, is connected to the gyro I23 of the craft. Accordingly, swinging the craft through 360 has the same effect as rotating a pelorus 360. 'Inasmuch as the pelorus is sighted on a remote landmark while the craft swings, the addition of gyro heading to the pelorus yields no change in true bearing.

The electrical output of the synchro generator I2! is repeated by a servo amplifier E25 and 4 Gyro error correction is introduced, if r-* quired, through the differential mechanism 635 by means of a handcrank l3! and suitable speedchanging gearing H8.

The electrical outputs of the synchro generators I01, I09, Hi driven from the peloruses are fed through a junction box into the corresponding differential synchros 129, Ml, I33 and, since gyro heading and error are also fed into these differentia1 synchros, the outputs thereof are true bearing. Conversion to true reverse bearing is accomplished by rotating the stators of the differential to introduce the factor of The outputs of the differential synchros I29, 53!, 133 are desirably fed into a second set of differential synchros I39, Ml, M3 having normally fixed stators and rotors, but which can be adjusted in relative/orientation as by handcranks I45, Ml, M9 to correct for mechanical misalignments at the time of first setting up the apparatus for operation.

In the foregoing description, the details of construction of the various synchro devices, the peloruses, the gyro, the servomotor and amplifier have been omitted since such devices are of conventional design and, accordingly, such details are well known to those skilled in the art. In the drawing, electrical connections are shown by solid lines using a conventional single line for a multiple conductor cable where obvious. Mechanical linkages and connections are designated by broken lines.

The plotting table I! is shown, in Fig. 1a, by dot-dash lines, and corresponding parts disposed thereon are indicated by the same reference characters as employed in Fig. 1.

The bearing repeaters I2 are controlled by synchro motors Ifla, each of which is, in turn, controlled by a corresponding synchro generator E01, 509, Hi driven by peloruses Hll, H13, 05 which, for example, can be manually controlled by a member of the ships crew, and which is aimed constantly at the external land mark corresponding respectively with each bearing repeater 12. Accordingly, as the bearing of the land mark with respect to the ship is changed, the angular position of the bearing repeater on the table i l is changed. In order to insure that the angular position of bearing repeaters represents the true reverse bearing of the correspondingland marks, the synchro motors 58a are set off from the corresponding relative bearing by an amount equal to the gyro heading of the ship, plus or minus the gyro error, plus 180 as described above.

There is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the mechanism that maintains the multiple contact !9 at the same north-south orientation when bearing repeater l2 rotates. A gear 2! is fixed, as by spacer member I47, to the case 21 of bearing repeater l2 and'is mounted coaxially with top plate l2a so as to be stationary with'respect to case 27.; Another gear 22',- of the same diameter as gear 2|, is mounted by means of a spindle M9 on top plate iZa, but free to turn. An idler gear" 23,- mounted on top plate 241, is placed between gears 2! and 22 so that when-top plate 12a is rotated by synchro motor 3a through a suitable transmis-' sion I51, the north-south orientation of gear 22 remains the same. A' cable or wire-20 is wound on a spring drum 24 that is mounted in a suitable frame I53, which is, in turn, coaxially disposed with respect to top plate I211 but is free to turn relative thereto so that cable 20 is always on'the straight line between the centers of bearing re? peater. and position indicator;l3 (Fig.1)... 13

The multiple-contact mechanism I9 and associated lever 25, illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and la, are shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. As shown, the multiple contact I9 comprises a commutator ring having four arcuate conductive segments I9a, I9b, I90, and I901 mutually insulated from each other and mounted at the periphery of gear 22. If desired, gear 22 can be fabricated of insulation material and the segments I9a-I9d imbedded or suitably molded on the upper surface thereof. Insulatingly spaced slip rings I55, I51, I59, I SI are concentrically arranged on the lower surface of gear 22 and conductive connection between segments I9a-I9d and. slip rings I55I6I, respectively, can be. effected in any suitable manner, as by threading pieces of wire through openings in the body of gear 22 and soldering the wires to the corresponding segments and slip rings.

Two sets of brushes I33, I65 are carried by top plate I'Za, one set I63 on the upper surface of plate I 2a and engaging slip rings I55-I6I. The other set of brushes I65 is mounted on the underside of plate I2a and engages slip rings I61, I69, I13, which are insulatingly spaced in concentric array on the case 21 of the bearing indicator I2.

Respective brushes of set I 63 are individually electrically connected to brushes of set I65 by suitable conductors insulated from plate I2a as shown. Connection to individual rings IB1-I13 from external circuit arrangements can be effected by passing any conventional cable (not shown) through an opening I in the cover plate of case 21.

Pivotally supported on top plate I2a, and disposed for motion relative to and above the commutator ring is the lever 25 having a pair of oppositely extending arms 21, 29, each of which arms is provided with a respective contact point 3I, 33. The lever 25 is formed with a medial body portion 35 having a transverse rectangular opening I 11 substantially larger than a rectangular cap I19 formed at the upper end of shaft I49 and into which opening the cap is adapted to be passed in balance-mounting the lever 25. As shown (Fig. 3) the cap I19 is formed inwardly extending conical recesses I BI, I 83, in opposed sides thereof and providing bearing surfaces for screws I85, I81 carried by the body portion 35. The lever is balanced and pivoted by the screws I 85, I81 so that the contacts 3 I, 33 normally clear the segments by a very small distance, as seen in Fig. 4.

A pair of parallel supports I89, I9I are formed on the body portion 35, which support a transverse pin I93 on which a grooved wheel I 95 is rotatable freely. The fine wire or cable 20 passes freely through the groove in wheel I95 normally without bearing against the walls thereof.

In operation, in the position shown in Fig. 2, when the top plate I2a of the bearing repeater I2 is rotated slightly by motor I8a, gear 22 is caused to roll on idler 23, which, in turn rolls around gear 2 I. As above described, the orientation of gear 22 is unchanged by such rotation. However, since lever 25 is angularly displaced at the rotation of plate gear I2a, lever 25 is tipped as a result of the torque exerted by cable 20 on the wall of the grooved wheel I95, and the contact at one of the segments, say that at I9b, closes, causing motor I1 (Figs. 1 and 1a) to rotate, as will be described hereinbelow.

As shown in Fig. 1a, the multiple contact assemblies I9 of each of the repeaters I2 are connected through a suitable amplifier arrangement I95 to a relay control circuit I91. The amplifier arrangement I 95 can be any suitable combination of vacuum-tube amplifiers wherein the leads from individual segments of the segments I9a-I9d are connected to respective control grids of corresponding tubes (not shown), thereby to initiate the flow of plate current upon the occurrence thereat of a positive voltage. The plate circuits of the respective tubes include electromagnetic relay coils A--L each of which actuates a respective set of three relay contacts A1, A2, A3, L1, L2, L3. The contacts are shown, in symbols employed in conventional electrical engineering practice, as signs for those contacts open normally and signs for those contacts closed normally.

Operation of the relays controls the motors I6 and I1 and consequently controls the direction in which the position indicator I3 is caused to move. For example, if the bearing repeater at the left-hand side of table II is actuated so that the lever 25 thereof contacts segment Hid, relay B completes the circuit in lead S, simultaneously opening the circuits B2 and B3 in lead S. Thus relay B has assumed control of motor I1, the north-south control motor, and drives that motor so as to move the position indicator I3 in a south direction until correct positioning of the indicator i3 restores the actuating wire 20 to preper alignment, whereupon the lever 25 is restored to balanced condition. At this point, contact with segment I9d is broken. In the event that motor I1 causes indicator I3 t o overshoot its mark, misalignment of wire 29 causes the lever contact to be made at segment isb, energizing relay coil A. Energization of coil A causes actuation of contacts A1, A2 and A3, thereby completing the circuit in lead N and braking thecircuit A2 and A3. Motor I1 now drives the position indicator I3 in the north direction until proper alignment of wire 20 restores the lever 25 to the balance position.

Two contacts will close simultaneously only when the bearing is nearly NE, NW, SE or SW; for any other bearing only one contact will close. For example, if bearing repeater I2 is lined up in the north-south direction, rotation will cause only one of contacts I9a or I to close, causing motor IE to rotate, and if bearing repeater I2 is lined up in the east-west direction, rotation will cause only one of contacts I9b or H911 to close, causing motor I1 to rotate.

A small lamp 26 secured to the case of hearing repeater I2 but mounted axially with top plate I2a projects the marking of the center of bearing repeater IE. on the chart or map.

Inasmuch as bearing indicators I2 are placed on table II to correspond to the location of known landmarks, and further inasmuch as the rotational position of each bearing indicator I2 is controlled by a pelorus aimed at the corresponding landmark it is apparent that there is rovided an automatic control to maintain position indicator I3 at the location of table II corresponding to the actual position of the ship with relation to the fixed landmarks.

The calibrations on card I3b make possible rapid plotting of course and distances obtained from various special apparatus aboard vessels and the invention can be used for the making of hydrographic surveys, or the like, as well as for wartime uses such as the plotting of loca tions or submarines or mines, or the like.

Because the central axis of scale I3b of indicator I3 is always at a known position relative 7, to the fixed landmarks, any other object of which the range or distance and relative hearing from the ship is known can immediately be plotted on the chart by means of the relative bearing scale I31: and the range ordistance rings 32, the scale of which is substantially identical with that of the chart. Distortion of the projected scale can Hoe minimized by the employment of a suitable conventional optical projection system.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. Switching apparatus for use witha craftposition repeater having a plate adjustable rotatably in accordance with changes in orientation of the craft, said apparatus comprising a rotary member coupled to said plate and adapted to be maintained in spaced parallel relation therewith for all positions of said plate, a plurality of coplanar conductive segments carried by said member and connected to electrical circuits to be switched, a conductive lever mounted for rotation spaced from and relative to said segments and in a plane parallel to the plane of said segments, said lever being mounted for tilting movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said segments, a grooved wheel carried by said lever over the fulcrum thereof, and a cable engaging the groove of said wheel to tilt said lever and close contact thereof with one of said segments upon rotation of said lever relative said cable.

2. Switching apparatus for use witha craftposition repeater having a plate adjustable rotatably in accordance with changes in orientation of the craft, said apparatus comprising a rotarymember coupled to said plate, means to maintain said member in spaced parallel relation with said plate for all positions of said plate, a plurality of coplanar conductive segments carried by said member and connected to electrical circuits to be switched, a conductive lever mounted for rotation spaced from and relative to said segments and in a plane parallel to the plane of said segments, said lever being mounted for tilting movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said segments, a grooved wheel carried by said lever over the fulcrum thereof, said wheel being rotatable on an axis parallel to the plane of said segments and to the length of said lever, and a cable engaging the groove of said wheel to tilt said lever and close contact thereof with one of said segments upon rotation of said lever relative said cable.

ROBY BYRON WHITE, J R.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,624,391 Clausen Apr. 12, 1927 2,297,652 Henry Sept. 29, 1942 2,446,881 Miller Aug. 10, 1948 2,611,051 Kolff Sept. 16, 1952 2,643,306 Hamilton June 23, 1953 

